Davies hoping to make most of new lease of life

BEN Davies is hoping his excellent form will earn him a starting role when Derby County face Nottingham Forest next week.

The 31-year-old midfielder looked destined for the Pride Park exit door before a recent recall gave him a new lease of life.He has put in several displays which are as good as anything since he joined the Rams from Notts County two years ago.

But Davies is not counting his chickens beyond the next game, which sees Derby visit Brighton on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.

“You have to see what happens and you can’t take anything for granted,” said the set-piece specialist.

“I’ll just try my best and if I have a good week in training hopefully the gaffer will pick me again. But whatever happens you get on with it.

“They’re great games to play in and I just hope I’m in the gaffer’s mind. I’ll let him know I’m there!”

Davies, who cost the Rams £400,000, is aware of a difficult spell the club has coming up — but is confident they can continue to pick up points and stay in touch with the Championship’s top six.

“We’ve got a tough run in the rest of January, with Brighton and Forest and then Hull,” he said.

“We’ve got to stay in there — and the thing about playing teams around you is that if you win you can go above them.

“They’re tough games but we seem to have got our act together a bit away from home.

“With the way we’re playing at home, as long as we can pick up points away from home we should be all right.”

Davies is also revelling in being part of a swashbuckling Derby side who are one of the top scorers at home this season.

“Every time we go forward we look like scoring at the minute,” he said. “We’re cutting teams apart.

“Getting five against Tranmere and three against Middlesbrough reflects the way we’re playing and the way we’re going forward.”